Hop plant named ‘HBC 566’

ABSTRACT

A new hop plant named ‘HBC 566’ is disclosed. The cones of ‘HBC 566’ mature in September. ‘HBC 566’ is used for its aromatic quality.

Genus and species: Humulus lupulus.

Variety denomination: ‘HBC 566’.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘HBC 566’ is a product of a controlled breeding program carried out bythe inventors in the Yakima Valley of Washington State. ‘HBC 566’resulted from the cross pollination of ‘YCR 21’ (unpatented Humuluslupulus female plant) and male plant ‘01239-2’ (unpatented). The crosspollination was made in 2007. The plant was selected and assignedaccession number 566 in 2010. At this time, it was asexually reproducedvia softwood cuttings in a greenhouse near Toppenish, Wash. Prior to2014, the original single plant of ‘HBC 566’ was expanded to multipleplants, which were planted in the area of Toppenish, Wash. By 2014, theplants had been observed and evaluated for several years. Throughoutseveral generations of asexual propagation, ‘HBC 566’ has been observedto retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type.

COMPARISON OF ‘HBC 566’ TO PARENT PLANT AND COMPARISON CULTIVAR

Table 1. below, sets forth some of the distinguishing characteristics of‘HBC 566’ as compared to its female parent ‘YCR 21’, and to the‘Cascade’ cultivar as a closely comparable cultivar.

TABLE 1 Instant Plant Mother Plant Cascade ID #: ‘HBC 566’ ‘YCR 21’ — UVAlpha: 7.5-9.5% 12.5-16% 5.5-9.0% UV Beta: 2.5-3.5%  3.8-4.7% 6.0-7.5%Alpha:Beta: 3.0 3.4 1.1 % Co—H:  20-25% 33.5-37%  30-35% Matures: <Sep.7 Sep. 7-Sep. 21 Sep. 5-Sep. 15

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 illustrates a mature ‘HBC 566’ hop plant grown on a trellis;

FIG. 2 illustrates whole cones and cross sections of cones of the ‘HBC566’ hop plant;

FIG. 3 illustrates the bine of a mature ‘HBC 566’ hop plant; and

FIG. 4 illustrates the cones and leaves of a mature ‘HBC 566’ hop plant.

The colors of these illustrations may vary with lighting conditions and,therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should bedetermined with reference to the observations described herein, ratherthan from these illustrations alone.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description is based on observations made during the2013-2014 growing seasons at Toppenish, Wash. It should be understoodthat the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending uponcultural practices and climatic conditions, and can vary with locationand season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average ofmeasurements taken from a number of individual plants of the newvariety. The measurements of any individual plant or any group ofplants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average. All colorreferences are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Use: Brewing.-   Harvest date: September (during 2013 to 2014 growing seasons at    Toppenish, Wash.).-   Ploidy: Diploid, 2n=2x.-   Disease susceptibility: Moderate resistance to powdery mildew and    susceptible to downy mildew.-   Crop yield: 1400 lbs per acre.-   Plant shape: Climbing bine, columnar growth.-   Bine:    -   -   Color.—Yellow Green 146C.        -   Stipule direction.—Horizontal.        -   Stipule color.—Yellow Green 144A.        -   Average number per bine.—Two per node.        -   Stripe present.—Yes.        -   Stripe color.—Yellow Green 146B.        -   Bine diameter.—7.5 mm at base and 10.0 mm at nine feet.        -   Bine length.—Grown on an 18 ft trellis, typical growth 18-25            ft.        -   Lateral length between internodes.—200-210 mm on average.        -   Lateral length.—60 cm-150 cm.        -   Lateral diameter.—2-4 mm at the base and 0.5-1 mm at the            terminus.        -   Lateral color.—144B.-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Cordate and palmate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Average leaf length.—14.1 cm.        -   Average leaf width.—13.4 cm.        -   Color of mature leaf upper surface.—Yellow Green 147A.        -   Color of mature leaf lower surface.—Yellow Green 147B.        -   Color of immature leaf upper surface.—Yellow Green 147A.        -   Color of immature leaf lower surface.—Yellow Green 147B.        -   Number of lobes.—1-7.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Serrations per inch.—5-10.        -   Petiole length.—10 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—3-4 mm at the base.        -   Petiole color (base).—Yellow Green 146B.-   Cone:    -   -   Weight.—800-1000 mg.        -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Length.—40 mm.        -   Diameter.—23 mm.        -   Pickability.—Good pickability.        -   Bract shape.—Orbicular.        -   Bract apex.—Acuminate.        -   Bract margin.—Entire.        -   Bract base.—Rounded.        -   Bract color upper.—Yellow Green 146D.        -   Bract color lower.—Yellow Green 149D.        -   Bracteole shape.—Ovate.        -   Bracteole length.—4-5 mm.        -   Bracteole width.—3-4 mm.        -   Bracteole color upper.—Yellow Green 145B.        -   Bracteole color lower.—Yellow Green 145B.        -   Lupulin gland number per cone.—Moderate.        -   Lupulin gland color.—Yellow 14B.-   Analytical characteristics:    -   -   Alpha acid (as % of cone weight).—8.0-9.6%.        -   Beta acid (as % of cone weight).—2.2-2.9%.        -   Cohumulone (as % of alpha acids).—21-23%.        -   Total oil.—1.3-1.7 mL per 100 g hops.        -   Myrcene.—36-55.6%.-   Humulene.—10.1-15.1%.    -   -   Caryophyllene.—8.1-11.6%.        -   Farnesene.—0.03-0.76%.        -   Linalool.—0.68-0.79%.        -   Storage stability.—60-70% alpha acids remaining after 6            months storage at room temperature.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Hop plant as illustratedand described herein.